Car-starter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1. B. B. BRADY 8v A. B. MGGANNA. GARSTARTER. No. 358,642. Patented Mar. l, 18%87.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2,

B. B. BRADY 8v A. B. MGCANNA.

CAR STARTER.

No. 358,642. Patented Mar. 1,1887.

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BERNARD B. BRADY AND ANDREV B M-CCANNA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-STA RTE R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,642, dated Marchvl` 1887.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BERNARD B. BRADY and ANDREW B. MOC-ANNA, citizensof the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State Yof Iliinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Car-Starters, of which the following is a specication,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

|This invention relates to devi-ces for assisting the horses in startinga car; and it has for its object to provide an arrangement by which thedriver, by operating the brakes, will compress a spring, the elasticforce of which again will be utilized for starlinga car; also, toprovide friction-wheels brought in contact by the brake-operatingmechanism and tending to utilize the momentum of the car for compressingsuch spring.

Our invention therefore consists of the novel devices and combinationsof devices hereinafter described, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a longitudinalsectional elevation of the platform and running-gear of a car embodyingour improvements and in position as when the ear is in motion; Fig. 2, asimilar view of the same in position as after applying the brakes; Fig.3, a plan View of the running-gear, and Figs. 4 and 5 a longitudinalsection and edge view of the segmental starting-wheel.

Corresponding letters in the several figures of the drawings designatelike parts.

A and A denote the axles, and B the carwheels, mounted thereon. Upon themiddle of each axle is also rigidly1 mounted a ratchetwheel, C, and afriction-wheel, D. A segmental sprocket-wheel, E, is loosely sleevedupon each axle A by bifurcated arms e and V- straps d, that embrace theratchet-wheel C, and a pawl, F, is pivoted between the arms e, engagingwith the teeth of the ratchet-wheel C.

G G are the brake-shoes, each pair connected by a brake-beam, II, andsuspended to the carbody by links in the usual manner.

Between brackets I, secured upon the middle of each brake-beam, ispivoted a shaft, fi, upon which is rigidly mounted a frictionwheel, J,and asprocket-wheel, K. The friction-wheel J, being in line with wheelD, will be rotated by frictional contact therewith, which rotatingmovement will be imparted to sprocket-wheel K, that again is in linewith segmental sprocket-gear E. l

A spiral spring, L, is placed between plates M M', that slide uponlongitudinal rods fixed between brackets N N of the car-body. A rod, O,passed through the spring L and through an opening in plate M, iscoupled with its end to plate M', and another rod, O', also passedthrough spring L and through an opening in plate M', is coupled with itsend to plate M, and while rod O has coupled the end of a chain or linkbelt, P, which, after passing over segmental sprocket-gear E andsprocketwheel K of one end of the car, is secured with its opposite endto brake-staff Q, the rod O has coupled a similar chain or link belt, R,that, after passing over the segmental sprocket-gear E andsprocket-wheel K of the opposite end of the ear, is secured tobrake-staff S.

The friction-wheels J have each two diametrically-opposite arc-shapednotches,j,that, while the car is in motion, are on a diagonal position,as shown in Fig. l, but will bring the wheel J into frictional contactwith wheel D; this wheel J will be rotated such portion of a revolutionuntil the notchesj are brought in horizontal line with wheel l), asshown in Fig. l.

The car moving in the direction indicated by arrow in Fig. l, thedriver, for stopping, will turn staff S, when the tension of chain Itwill rotate sprocket-wheel K to compress spring L, and at the same timehe will pull wheel J into frictional contact with wheel D to rotatetherewith, whereby the momentum of the car will help the driver,compressing the spring until the notch j engages the 'rim of the wheel,and then, with a further turning of the brake-staff, the brake-shoeswill be brought to bear against their respective carwheels, stoppingfurther motion of the car; and while thus the wheels J K are turned andthe spring L is compressed, the segmental sprocket F/ is also tluned bythe chain orlink belt B engaging its teeth in a manner that the suddenreleasing of the brakes will release the full elastic force ofthe springto act upon such segmental sprocket E', which, by the engagelment of itspawl F' with ratchet-wheel C, will transmit such force upon the axle tobe rorated thereby in the forwardly-moving direction, and will thusassist the horses in starting the car.

As will be noticed, the friction-wheels D- and J are herein applied forthe purpose of assisting the driver in compressing the spring by themomentum of movement of the car; but yet by the great leverage power thedriver can exert for winding the chain upon the staff he cansufficiently compress the spring L to start or assist the horses instarting the car, and therefore in certain instances thesefriction-wheels D andJ can be omitted, and when thus omitted thetwobreak-beams may be connected in any well-known manner to operate all thebrake-shoes simultaneously by the turning of either brake-staff.

rlhe improvement herein described will be adapted as well for acable-car as for a horsecar.

We are aware that car brakes `and starters have been made with a springunder the car and a chainuconnecting to the brake-shaft, and having alever for operating the axle positively connected with and forming apart of said chain, and that friction-wheels for aiding in stopping thecarhave beenused directly upon theground-wheels, to which friction-wheelthe brake-shoe is secured 5 and we do not claim such, as in ourinvention the chain and axlelever are not positively connected, nor arethe friction-wheels applied to the ground-Wheels, nor do they have thebrake-shoes attached to them; and in no previous devices, so far as weare aware, have separate friction-wheels been applied to the car-axle,nor have the frictionwheels upon the brake-shaft been provided withnotches Vfor limiting their motion.

1. Inacarstarter, the combination, with the brake-staff, aspring secured under the body of the car, and a sprocket-chain connecting saidspring with said brake-staff, of a sprocketwheel around which thesprocket-chain passes, a ratchet-wheel fixed on an axle of the car, anda` segmental sprocket-gear loosely mounted on said axle and having apawl to engage the ratchet-wheel, said segmental gear being engaged withthe sprocket-chain.

2. The combination, with the brake-beam, friction-wheels, as described,for braking, and brake-staff, of a spring secured under the body of thecar, a ratchet-wheel fixed upon the axle, a segmental sprocket-gearloosely sleeved upon such axle and having a pawl engaging theratchet-wheel, a sprocket-wheel pivoted between brackets on thebrake-beam, and a sprocket-chain engaging the segmental gear and passinground the sprocket-wheel, said chain being attached at one end to thebrakestaff and at the other to the spring under the body of the car.

3. The combination, with the brake-beam and brakestaff of a car, of aspring secured under thecar-body, a friction-Wh eel andratchetwheelrigidly mounted upon the axle, a segmental sprocket-wheel looselysleeved upon the axle and provided with apawl engaging theratchet-wheel, a sprocket-wheel and frictionwheel pivoted betweenbrackets of the brakebeam, and a chain connected with the spring andpassed over and around the segmental gear and sprocket-Wheel, allsubstantially as set forth, to operate as specified.

4. The combination, with the brake-beam and brake-staff of a car, of aspring secured under the car-bod y, a friction-wheel and ratch etwheelrigidly mounted upon the axle, a segmental sprocket-gear loosely sleevedupon the axleand provided with a pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel, asprocket-wheel and frictionwheel pivoted between brackets of thebrakebeam, such friction-wheel having notches for limiting its movement,and a chain connected with the spring and passed over and around thesegmental gear and sprocket-wheel, all substantially as set forth, tooperate as specied.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

BERNARD B. BRADY. ANDREW B. MCCANNA'. Witnesses:

Wivr. H. Lofrz, NIooLAs lSCHARL.

